Latch means

ABSTRACT

A panel made up of an expanded metal mesh with frame members of split tubing receiving the edges of mesh and gripping it, and molded into a rigid unitary frame; and hinge means for mounting the panel on the support. The device also includes a latch for automatically locking in response to the device being put into place.

limited Slates Patent 1191 1111 3,738,i

@aialano [4 June 12, 1973 LATCH MEAN-S 624,080 5/1899 Pease.... 292 230 1,641,523 9 1927 Bell 49/50 x [76] Invent JsePh 1218 West Grand 2,668,729 2 1954 Watters 49/50 x Avenue, chlcago, 60622 2,749,168 6/1956 Harris .1 292/304 x 2,914,792 12 1959 Campbell 292 230 x [22] June 1971 2,917,335 12 1959 Pyka 292/1910. 36

[21] Appl. No.: 150,336 3,341,971 9/1967 Hartman 292/238 UX Related US. Application Data Primary Examiner Dennis L. Taylor [63] Contlnuanon-m-part of Ser. No. 793,966, Jan. 27, Atmmey paul H Gallagher 521 11.s. c1 49/50, 49/57 [571 ABSTRACT [51] lint. Cl E06b 9/00 A panel made up of an expanded metal mesh with [58] Field of Search ..49/5054, frame members of split tubing receiving the edges of 49/463, 465; 292/238, 304, 230, 231, 232 mesh and gripping it, and molded into a rigid unitary frame; and hinge means for mounting the panel on the support. The device also includes a latch for automati- [56] References Cited cally locking in response to the device being put into UNITED STATES PATENTS P 284,117 8/1883 Byar 49/50 1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in the general field of openwork panels, often utilized as window guards for example, but also usable as gates, space dividers, wall elements, and various such devices. The device includes a mesh element and a surrounding rigid frame.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Anobject of the invention is to provide novel latch means in conjunction with a window guard of the character wherein the window guard can be put in place in a mounting on the window and pursuant to that, the latch means becomes effective for preventing removal of the window guard in the absence of special manipulation.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a face view of a panel made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a large scale fragmentary view of elements .making up the panel represented in FIG. 1, and including hinge means;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a face view of a panel made according to the invention and including a wall element forming an opening in which the panel is utilized for closing, and

showing means for mounting the panel;

FIG. 5 is a face view of a panel made according to the invention and including extensions of the .frame elements utilized in mounting the panel;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 66 of FIG. 5, and showing the panel mounted on a wall over an opening;

FIG. 7 isa large scale view of the portion of FIG. 5 encircled by the dot-dash line 7, this view showing a panel and mounting means therefor and including novel latchmeans made according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is'a fragmentary view of a modified form of latch means;

FIG. 9 is a view from the side of FIG. 8, and with the device in vertical latching position; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but with the device in horizontal latching position.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings attention is directed first to FIG. 1 showing a panel, in face view, made according to the present invention.

The panel indicated in its entirety at 10 includes a mesh element 12 which in the preferred form of the invention is expanded metal, of known kind, this mesh being of generally open-work construction as will be understood. The mesh is mounted in a frame 14 including perimeter frame members extending around the mesh, including side members 14a, 14b, a bottom member 14c and a top member 14d. The panel in its final condition and simplest form is, as represented in FIG. 1, a'simple panel including only the mesh 12 and the frame 14, without other elements or members. The

specific construction of the panel is shown more fully in FIG. 2.

The mesh 12 as stated above is of expanded metal made from a solid sheet slitted in a large number of lines, each line including a large number of interrupted elements, and adjacent lines being arranged so that the line elements are staggered or offset transversely of the lines. The sheet is then expanded in directions transverse to the lines, forming strips or elements 12a interconnected by pieces 12b forming knobs, and forming opening 120, of generally diamond shape. The expanded metal mesh is of overall flat character lying generally in a plane 16 (FIG. 3), but the various elements thereof are individually displaced from that plane. For example, the strips 12a are at a slight angle to the main identifying plane 16 while the knobs 12b extend in directions transverse to the plane 16 a distance greater than the corresponding dimension of the strips 12a. The knobs 12b identical or similar, in shape and disposition, and while the strips 12a at their point of juncture with those knobs, in pairs form a thickness similar to the knobs, but at positions along their length between the knobs assume a thickness transverse to the plane 16 considerably less than the knobs, with the result that the knobs 12b form thick elements relative to the portions of the mesh at the midpoints of the strips 12a, and they are distributed throughout the area of the mesh.

The frame members 14 are split-tubular in form, preferably substantially cylindrical, as shown in FIG. 3. The cylindrical form is inexpensive and provides great strength in all directions. The frame members may be formed in a suitable and known method and shaped to provide a slot 18 running the entire length which is of a width less than the dimension of the knobs 12b, transverse to the plane 16, and the marginal edges of the slot engage the strips 12a and by the inclusion of certain of the knobs 12b within the interior of the tubing, the mesh is retained thereby in place in the frame.

The tubing frame members may be applied to the mesh by sliding them thereon longitudinally of the frame members. The frame members are then welded together as indicated at 20 at the top of the panel or as indicated at 22 at the bottom, forming a rigid, unitary and effectively integral frame. The first three frame members, such as the bottom and two side frame members, may be individually applied and provided with mitered joints as indicated at 24 in FIG. 2 while the top frame member 14d has a butting arrangement with the side members as indicated at 26. It is within the scope of the invention however to provide the slot 18 of sufficiently great width to pass over the knobs 12b in the mesh and then crimp or compress the frame members to confine the knobs within the frame members, and in that case all of the frame members may be provided with mitered joints 24. If desired, the tubing may be made to possess a degree of springiness, biasing the slot edges constantly into engagement with the strips 12a.

The cylindrical shape of the frame members provides an additional advantage and that is it enables the utilization of simple hinge means 28 which includes a circular strap element 30 encircling the corresponding frame members, such as 14b and one or two radial fingers 32 which may be secured to the framing means 34 (FIG. 4) defining an opening 36 in which the panel is mounted. Since the frame member is substantially cylindrical, the panel swings freely in the hinge means.

The panel when mounted as shown in FIG. 4 may be provided with any suitable securing means at the swinging edge, indicated diagrammatically at 38.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a panel made according to the invention mounted in a guard position over a window or opening in a building. In this instance the panel indicated at 10 is made generally like that described above except that two side frame members 14a and 14b having extensions 40 at the bottom and 42 at the top for use in mounting the panel in position. These extensions 40, 42 are inserted in apertures 44 in angle pieces 46 at the bottom and 48 at the top, mounted on the framing means 50 defining an opening or window 52 in a wall which the panel is utilized as a guard. These angle pieces 46, 48 may be continuous across the window 52 or they may be individual pieces as represented in FIG. 5, to render them less conspicuous. Suitable securing means may be provided such as a latch described hereinbelow, or a padlock, for securing the panel in mounted position.

As shown in FIG. 6 the panel is mounted in guard position on the inside 54 of the wall 50 over the window having a window pane 56..This.arrangement provides an added advantage in that-even if the window pane is broken by a would-be intruder, he still is frustrated by the fact that the panel is mounted inwardly of the window. The inconspicuous appearance of the angle pieces enables great protection to an establishment while when the guard panel is removed, there are only small telltale indications that a guard was in place.

FIG. 7 shows a first form of novel latch means for automatically latching the panel in place. This figure shows in large scale the portion of FIG. 5 at the lower left corner encircled by dot-dash line 7, and the latch dog incorporated in the panel. The panel is shown at 10 which includes the side frame member 14a having a lower extension 40 referred to above. This extension 40 is shown extended through the aperture 44 in the angle piece 46.

Incorporated in the lower extension 40 is a latch means indicated in its entirety at 58 which includes a latch dog 60 having two arms 62, 64 at an obtuse angle to each other. This latch dog is mounted in, the slot 18 in the tubing frame member and pivoted therein on a pin 66 mounted in the opposed wall elements of the tubing. The pin 66 is positioned at the juncture of the arms 62, 64 adjacent the outer or convex surface of the elbow between the arms, and at such a location that the latch dog assumes a position by gravity shown in full lines in FIG. 7 and here identified as a latching position. In this latching position the arm 62 extends laterally out through the slot 18 and beyond the confines of the frame member while the other arm 64 extends downwardly through the end of the frame member and substantially longitudinally thereof.

The latch dog 60 is thus arranged so that the panel can be easily inserted in place, and the latch dog, as a function of so inserting it in place, automatically moves to a position enabling that insertion, and then moves to a latching position; with the panel poised to be inserted into position by inserting the lower extension 40 downwardly through the aperture 44, the latch dog 60 is positioned as represented in full lines in FIG. 7; as the extension 40 moves down through the aperture, the lower arm 64 passes through the apertureand then the arm 60 engages the side edge of the aperture and the dog is thrown counterclockwise to the position shown in dot-dash lines, thereby enabling the arm 64 to readily pass through the aperture; after the latch dog has completely passed through the aperture it reassumes its full line position, due to gravity, whereupon the arm 62 would engage the horizontal flange of the angle piece if an attempt were made to remove the guard, and obstruct such removal. However when the panel is to be removed by an authorized person, he merely manipulates the latch dog by engaging either of the arms and moving it to its dot-dash line position and upon moving the panel upwardly until the arm 62 enters into the aperture 44, the removal of the panel is thereupon easily performed.

It will be understood that the latch means 58 may be provided in either or both of the lower extensions 40 of a panel as shown in FIG. 7; also it would be practical to provide opposed apertures in one of the extensions 40 to insert a padlock for use in an occasion regarded to be especially serious.

FIGS. 8-10 show a modified form of latch. In this instance a rod 70, corresponding to an extension 40 is provided with a slot 72 in which is a dog pivoted at 74 adjacent the end of the rod and adjacent the outer end of the latch dog, leaving a heavier inner end 76. Upon insertion of the end of the rod through the aperture 78 in a mounting member 80, the inner end 76 of the latch dog falls by gravity to looking or latching position. To release, the user merely manually moves the latch dog to straight position, and removes the rod from the mounting means.

The arrangement enables the rod to be mounted in either vertical or horizontal position, as indicated. The slot 72 opens through the rod, enabling the latch dog to swing out in either direction. In the form of FIG. 7, the device can also be mounted in horizontal position if the slot in the tube is disposed downward.

The latch means can be utilized in other devices in addition to window guards, such for example as awnings, canopies, coverings, etc.

The member may be a solid rod as indicated, or tubular, as desired. In the case of the window guard of FIG. 7, the extensions 40 may be solid with slots therethrough, in so far as the latch means is concerned, if that should be desired.

I claim 1. A window guard including a central open-work mesh and a perimeter frame mounted on and supporting the mesh, the frame including side vertical frame members having bottom extensions, and at least one of the extensions incorporating latch means which includes a latch dog having arms disposed relatively at an obtuse angle and pivoted in the extension and so mounted that under the action of gravity it assumes a latching position in which one of the arms extends downwardly longitudinally of and within the confines of the frame member and the other arm extends laterally out of the frame member, whereby when the extension is inserted through an aperture in a mounting means, the downwardly extending arm readily passes therethrough and the marginal edge of the aperture engages the other arm and swings the latch dog to a posi tion in which the other arm extends upwardly longitudinally of and within the confines of the frame member and thereby enables the latch dog to pass through the aperture, and wherein after the latch dog passes through the aperture, the upper arm swings outwardly, under gravity action on the latch dog, to a position laterally beyond the extension and beyond the aperture whereby to preclude removal of the guard upwardly in the absence of special manipulation of the latch dog. 

1. A window guard including a central open-work mesh and a perimeter frame mounted on and supporting the mesh, the frame including side vertical frame members having bottom extensions, and at least one of the extensions incorporating latch means which includes a latch dog having arms disposed relatively at an obtuse angle and pivoted in the extension and so mounted that under the action of gravity it assumes a latching position in which one of the arms extends downwardly longitudinally of and within the confines of the frame member and the other arm extends laterally out of the frame member, whereby when the extension is inserted through an aperture in a mounting means, the downwardly extending arm readily passes therethrough and the marginal edge of the aperture engages the other arm and swings the latch dog to a position in which the other arm extends upwardly longitudinally of and within the confines of the frame member and thereby enables the latch dog to pass through the aperture, and wherein after the latch dog passes through the aperture, the upper arm swings outwardly, under gravity action on the latch dog, to a position laterally beyond the extension and beyond the aperture whereby to preclude removal of the guard upwardly in the absence of special manipulation of the latch dog. 